Process of and apparatus for manufacturing gas



(No Model.) v

P. G. BATES. mocnss OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFAGTURING GAS. N0.573,95'7f Patented Dec. 29, 1896.

INVENTOR:

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$0042; meys,

UNITED STAT S PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS G. BATES, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 573,957, dated December29, 1896.

Application filed May '7, 1896. Serial No. 590,529- (No model.)

To ctZZ who/1'1, 15 11w. concur/t:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS G. ISATES,.a

' citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, in the Stateof Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inProcesses of and Apparatus for Manufacturing Combustible or IlluminatingGas, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in means for makingeither f uel-gas, for driving gas-engines, heating furnaces, and thelike, or illuminating-gas.

In the United States patent to Maurice Lorois, N 0. 529,453, there isclaimed a new process of manufacturing gas characterized by the forcingof air and superheated steam under high pressure through a mass ofincandescent fuel, whereby a producer-gas is formed under so high atemperature as to avoid the formation of ammoniacal and tarryimpurities.

1n the United States patent granted to Maurice Lorois, No. 529,452, foragasanotor is shown a combination of the apparatus necessary forproducing gas by the said process with agas-engine specially adapted tobe operated by the combustion of such gas.

In an application for United States patent by Maurice Lorois and FrancisG. Bates jointly, filed June 13, 1896, Serial No. 595,e96, are set forthcertain improvements in means for producing gash y the same generalprocess as that of said Patent No. 529,453, the same being especiallydesigned for the manufacture of gas independently of aspecially-constructed motor-engine and to render it generally applicablefor small gas-producing plants or other gas plants.

The present invention introduces certain other improvements upon thegeneral process set forth in said Patent No. 529,453 especially designedto simplify the operation and render the apparatus more nearlyautomatic, and also especially to adapt it for the production ofillumiuatinggas.

Figure l of the accompanying drawings is a sectional elevation of theentire apparatus. Figs. 2,3, and 4 are sections of modifiedconstructions of the oil vaporizer or carburetor.

Referring to Fig. 1, let A designate the gasproducer or gazogene, itsgeneral construction'boing the same as in said Patent No.

I 529,453. It is provided with a feeding-hopper B, closed at top by atight-fitting cap a and lower down by a rotative cook or valve 1), whichcommunicates with the interior of the gas-producer through a conical ordownwardly-flaring funnel or magazine 0, which enters deeply into theproducer-chamber. A superheating-coilD is arranged in the upper part ofthe chamber around the magazine and communicates through atube orpassage 0 with an annular passage (Z, encircling the lower part of theproducer and from which twyers enter the producer-chamber. From theupper part of the producer leads a gasoutlet flue e, which communicateswith the upper part of a descending flue or vertical chamber E, throughwhich the hot gas circulates downwardly around a coil F, constituting asteam-generator. From somewhat above the bottom of the chamber E leadsan outlet f, through which the gas is conducted to an air-heater G,through which it flows to a gasoutlet pipe g, leading to apressure-regulator H, for reducing the pressure of the gas before it isdelivered by the pipe 9', which leads to the place of use.

A pump or air'compressor J is arranged to draw in air through an inlet77, and expel it through an outlett' into the compressed-air reservoiror tank K. The pump J is shown diagrammatically, it being understoodthat any known construction of air-compressor may be employed, butpreference is given to those constructions in which water is pumpedalong with the air or otherwise applied for the l purpose of cooling thecompressor. This is indicated diagrammatically in the drawings by theintroduction of a water-pipe L, controlled by a valve Z, whichintroduces a stream of water into the inlet it, so that this water willenter the pump with the air. From the reservoir K an air-outlet j isprovided leading by a pipe 7:; to the air-heater G, through which theair flows and takes up heat from the hot gas and is then led by a pipe mto the gas-producer A, where it is introduced, preferably,into theannular passage d to oommingle with the superheated steam beforeentering into contact with the incandescent fuel. Another air pipe orbranch, it, leads from the compressed-air reservoir (or from the pipe76) to a pressm-e-regulator M, by which the pressure ICO of thecompressed air is lowered before it e11- ters the delivery-pipe n, whichconducts it to the place of use.

\Vater is forced through the steam-generating coil F, and by beingsubjected to the action of the hot gas in the chamber E steam isgenerated which passes from the upper part of this coil through aconnecting-pipe or gooseneck 19, which connects with the upper part ofthe superheating-coil D, through which the same circulates, and from thelower part thereof it is led by the pipe or passage to the annularpassage (7, communicating with the twyers. The height of the water inthe generator is indicated by a water-tube or glass water-gage g, whichconnects at top and bottom through horizontal branch pipes with thecoil. Petcocks 7* may be advantageously added for the same purpose withor without the water-tube. The steam-pressure is indicated by a gage y.A thermometer or pyrometert is provided in the chamber E for determining the temperature of the gas passing over to heat the steam-generatin gcoil F. An other pyrometer or thern'iometer, i ,is preferably applied tothe air-heater G to determine the temperature of the gas by which theair is heated.

The water may be forced through the coil F by any suitable means adaptedto alford sufficient pressure to overcome the pressure of the generatedsteam. The pressure forces the steam to pass through the superheater andout through the resistance of the mass of fuel in the gas-producer.

The water which is pumped into the cylinder or reservoir K is heated bytaking up the heat of compression of the air, and this heat is utilizedby employing this water for feeding the steam-generator I To this endthe water is drawn from the lower part of the reservoir K and forcedinto the bottom of the coil F.

The apparatus as thus far described does not essentially differ fromthat set forth in the aforesaid application for patent of Lorois andBates.

Iwill now proceed to describe those features that are peculiar to mypresent invention.

According to my invention for purposes of better regulation of theprocess and for other reasons the generation of steam is conducted undera higher pressure than that which prevails throughout the remainingportion of the apparatus. I'Ieretofore in making gas according to thissystem the same pressure, practically speaking, has been maintainedthrough out the entire apparatus, only such differences of pressurehaving existed as were incident to maintain the flow of the com pressedair and steam. I provide means for pumping the water from thecompressed-air reservoir K or other source into the steam-generator F ata higher pressure than that which prevails in the remainder of theapparatus, and 1 provide a special automatic regulator for reducing thepressure of the steam as it leaves the generator and before it entersthe gas-produeer. By a proper construction and adjustment of thisautomatic regulator I am thus enabled to secure a uniform volume ofsteam to be admitted to the gas-producer, so that the relativequantities of steam and of air which are injected are maintaineduniform, and the composition of the resulting gas is thus more constant.

In the particular construction of apparatus shown the water in thecompressed-airreservoir K, which has been heated by the compression ofthe air, is conducted out at the bottom by a pipe to into awater-reservoir K, from which a pipe it leads to the water-forcingdevice or pump P, which in this instance and preferably is constructedas an injector. The reservoir K' might be omitted and the pipes a u madecontinuous. The reservoir K is made with a vent-valve u" at top forblowing off any compressed air or gases that may accumulate. Theinjector P may be of any usual or known construction and receive steamby a pipe Z) from any suitable source, preferably the steam-generator F.A valve u may be provided for controlling the ad mission of water and avalve 1: for controlling the admission of steam. The injector may beconstructed with the usual regulating-handle 7t and throttle-valve 7L2.From the injector a water-pipe it leads to the bottom of thesteamgenerating coil 1*. At any convenient point is introduced acheck-valve V for preventing any backtlow. A steam-pipe 13', leadingupwardly from the generator F, leads to the automatic regulator R, bywhich the pressure of steam is reduced and from which the steam flows bypipe 1) to the superheater D. The regulator B may be controlled by adiaphragm or by any means responding to ditferences in pressure and maybe of any known construction of pressure regulating or red u ci mg orpressure-relief valves. Its construction is preferably such as to governnot only the flow to the steam-oultet pipep, but also to the pipe '0,which conducts steam to the injector, so that the operation of theinjector will thereby be kept under control of the automatic regulator.As the pressure in the generator F is higher than that beyond theinjector P on the one hand an d beyond the regulator R on the other, itbecomes necessary to provide means for relievin g any excess ofpressure, for which purpose a safety-valve Q is provided. As thesteam-generating capacity of the generator F is commonly in excess ofthat needed to supply steam for the gas-producer and for the operationof the injector, I provide an additional steam-outlet pipe e, as shown,leading to any point where steam is desired for use in quantities withinthe capacity of the generator.

In theapparatus shown'the water-level in the generator F is at a: 00,while that in the compressed-air reservoir K is at y y}. The injector Phas to force the water from the level 3 to the level :20, and inaddition to increase its pressure tothe extent desired for creating theproper excess of pressure over that in the remainder of the apparatus.No particular relation exists between the levels wan d y,it beingapparent that by placing the compressedair reservoir K higher the workthrown upon the injector would be reduced, it being quite admissibleeven to elevate the reservoir K above the level at or to place the twoon the same level.

Another feature of my invention resides in the introduction ofhydrocarbon vapor to the stream of hot air before the latter enters thegas-producer. For this purpose the hot-air pipe m, leading from theair-heater G, is made to traverse a carbureter S, into which oil or anyliquid hydrocarbon is introduced, preferably continuously and underpressure, by means of a pump S or in any other manner. The particularconstruction of the carbureter is immaterial, provided it be capable ofbringing the air and oil into mutual cont-act, so that the hot air mayvaporize the oil, and, be-

coming charged with the vapor, may pass as carbureted air into thegas'producer. By thus introducing liquid hydrocarbon the operation ofgas producing is materially modified, and the process is considerablycheapened. In operating with a bed of incandescent coal in thegas-producer A, I have by thus introducing hydrocarbon vapor derivedfrom the vaporization of crude petroleum effected a considerablereduction in the cost of fuel for a given quantity of gas produced. Inaddition the further advantage is realized that less coal is required,and consequently less ash is produced, and the operation of theapparatus may proceed continuously for a longer period before it becomesnecessary to remove accumulated ashes,and the formation of clinkers frompoor coal is overcome. A further and most import-ant result is that thegas which is made. instead of being merely a fixed fuel-gas of unusualpurity, as results from the process of said Patent No. 529,453, butwithout any material illuminating quality, may be converted into anilluminatinggas of sufficient candle-power to burn satisfactorily inordinary burners as a suitable substitute for ordinary city gas. Myinvention thus provides an exceptionally cheap process for theproduction of illuminatinggas. The illuminatin ggas th us produced hasthe same merit-as the fuel-gas produced by the, process of said PatentNo. 529,453, that it is free from tarry and am moniacal impurities, sothat it requires no Washing, scrubbing, or purifying, but is ready forimmediate use, and maybe burned either hot as it comes from theapparatus or may be cooled before passing to the burner.

ward per square centimeter, (about fortythree pounds per square inch.)That pressure has been determined by experiment to be approximately thelowest pressure at which a perfectly pure gas free from condensablecarburets or tarry matters and ammoniacal products can be produced.Below that pressure the gas becomes progressively more and more impure,although for some purposes a gas sufficiently pure may be made at apressure even as low as eighteen pounds per square inch. In the makingof fuel-gas, however, it is preferable to operate under a pressure of atleast fifty pounds per square inch. I have found that in the productionof illuminating gas according to my present invention it is necessary,or at least highly desirable, to increase the pressure considerablybeyond that which is necessary for the production of a suitable fuelgas.The best results are attained with a pressure approximating one hundredpounds per square inch. Under this pressure there is maintained in thegas-producer a temperature so high that all that portion of thehydrocarbon introduced with the hot air which is not, by undergoingpartial combustion, converted into carbon monoxid is completelyconverted into the higher or more volatile hyd rocarbons,or,in otherwords, becomes fixed.

It results in my process of making illuminating-gas that the fixation ofthe enriching or illuminant ingredients is effected by the sameoperation by which the steam is decomposed and the body of the gas(consisting, chiefly, of hydrogen and carbon monoxid) isgenerated,whereas in the production of watergas, as is well known, thegas-body or nonluminous gas is first produced, and this is subsequentlycharged with the enrichinghydrocarbons, after which the latter are fixedby circulating the gas through a fixation-chamber containingbaffle-brick or other obstructions which have been previously highlyheated, so that the process both of fixation and gas-generation arenecessarily intermittent, Whereas in my process they are continuous. Afurtherditference is that by my process a far higher temperature ismaintained in the gas-producer than can possibly bemaintained in thefixation-chamber of the water gas process, by which lam able to effect acomplete and absolute fixation of the hydrocarbons, whereas in thewater-gas processes the hydrocarbons are never Wholly fixed, the resultbeing that when water-gas is transmitted through mains it suffersinvariably some loss in illuminating power by reason of the condensationof the hydrocarbons which remain in the mains. The gas resulting from myprocess therefore differs from ordinary water-gas in three respects:first, that it comes from the producer so pure and devoid of tarry andammoniacal prod ucts as to require no subsequent purification,secondly,that its luminous ingredients are in the form of fixed noncondensablegases, and, thirdly, that it con- IIO tains a higher percentage of inertnitrogen which in effect dilutes the gas to an extent which practicallyis advantageous, since otherwise the gas would be so rich in hydrocarbonproducts as to be difficult of complete and smokeless combustion inordinary burners.

Accordin to my invention the process may be operated in three differentways, according to the character of gas that it is desired to produce.For making a fuel-gas of low illuminating power and useful forilluminating purposes only in connection with an incandescent burner,such as the IVelsbach, I use a low pressure, between, say, the limits offorty-two to sixty pounds per square inch, employing, chiefly, coal asthe source of carbon, with but a small percentage of oil and a minimumproportion of superheated steam. For making a richer fuel-gas betteradapted for illuminating purposes in connection with an incandescentburner I use nearly the same amount of coal and increase somewhat theproportion of hydrocarbon oil, using, for example, from six to ten percent. of benzene, and increase the pressure to from sixty toseventy-five pounds per square inch. For a gas that is distinctively anilluminating-gas, and to which I may impart an illuminating Value ofconsiderably over thirty candlepower, I greatly increase the proportionof hydrocarbon oil and raise the pressure from seventy-five to onehundred pounds per square inch, the higher pressure making the purer andmore perfect fixed gas and one adapted to be conducted through mains athigh pressure without loss by condensation. In this latter case theexpenditure of coal may be reduced to the minimum,while the proportionsof oil and steam are at the maximum. No more definite directions can begiven forthe practice of the process, as the conditions vary greatly,according to the proportions of the apparatus, but any one skilled inthe art can readily, by following these general directions, vary theconditions of the process until the quality of thegas produced is thatwhich in any particular case he desires.

The minimum pressure which can be employed in operating my process isapproximately forty-two pounds, and the maximum which it is necessary toattain to reach the best results is approximately one hundred pounds persquare inch, the highest of these pressures giving the most perfectresults for producing an illu minating-gas of high candlepower.Generally speaking, as the proportion of hydrocarbon is increased thepressures must be raised in order to produce a pure and fixed gas.

The hydrocarbon may be vaporized and introd uced into the gas-producerotherwise than by means of the hot air, but this affords a suitable andsatisfactory vehicle for its introduction. In another application filedJune 4:, 1896, Serial No. 594,303, I shall claim the vaporization of thehydrocarbon by means of the superheated steam in its passage from thesuperheater D to the twyers. Other means may be provided, and in factany means by which the oil is vaporized and introduced into thegas-producer so as to pass through the incandescent zone thereof,together with the air and steam, is admissible.

Under the conditions of my invention I expect to be able after theoperation has once been started and the desired pressure and temperatureattained to dispense with the necessity of further introd notion-0fsolid fuel or coal into the gas-producer. To accomplish this result,sufficient oil or hydrocarbon fuel mustbe injected into the stream ofhot air (or injected, sprayed, or otherwise introduced into thegas-producer) to afford all the fuel required in the process fordecomposing the steam and maintaining the high temperature necessary forthe formation of the gas. In conducting the process in this manneritmaybe found advantageous toprovide an extended surface of incandescence inthe gas-prod ucer by introducing thereinto a suitable quantity of brokenor irregularly-shaped refractory materials, such as pieces of fire-brickor lumps of lime, which under the high heat of the combustion will bemaintained incandescent.

The specific construction of carburetor S (shown in Fig. 1) consists ofan annular oilchamber a surrounding the hot-air passage 1). The pump Sforces oil through a pipe 0 into the chamber a from which it enters inany suitable way intothe air-passage b. In

this construction wicks of asbestos or other suitable material areprovided for drawing the oil into the air-passage. The pump S maymaintain a pressure in the chamber (0 just equal to that of thecompressed air, or, preferably, it may pump the oil under a higherpressure than that of the air, so as to force the oil in larger volumeinto the air-passage.

Modified constructions are shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. In Fig. 2 theoil-chamber is formed withina tube a around which the air passes in achamber 17 The tube a is of porous material, such as unglazedearthenware or asbestos, and the oil is forced into it under sufficientpressure to make it exude through the pores of the tube. In Fig. 3 theair passes through a porous tube b and the oil is forced into theannular chamber a surrounding it and a pressure sufficient to cause itto pass through the tube into the air-passage. Fig. 4 shows aconstruction the same as that shown in Fig. 1, except that shortstraight wicks are substituted for the arcshaped wicks of the firstconstruction.

The apparatus shown is designed to be operated in the following manner:A fire is kin; died in the produoerAand supplied with coal or othersuitable fuel, the fire being continued until a suitable bed ofincandescent fuel has been obtained. During this time air is blownthrough the producer under low pressure and the products of combustionescape through a branch pipe A, the cover c of which is thrown open andthe pipe is connected to a chimneyflue. When a sufficient bed ofincandescent coal is attained, thefiue connection is disconnected, thecap a closed, and the apparatus is ready to be operated under pressurefor producing gas. The air-compressorJ then forces compressed air into.the reservoir K and at the same time introduces water, which is warmedby the heat liberated upon the compression of the air, as described.Initially thesteam-generator F is filled with Water in any suitable way,as by pouring water in beforehand or by forcing it in by the injector IIby steam taken from any available source.

- lator R and permits the escape of only a predetermined volume ofsteam, which passes through the superheating-coil D, which is exposed tothe hot gas in the upper part of the producer, and the superheatedsteam. then enters the annular passage cl, whereby it commin gles withthe hot compressed air from. the reservoir K, which has been heatedbypassin g through theheater G, and the commingled steam and air thenenter through the twyers into the prod ucer-chamber. If illuminatinggasis being made, or if it is desired to substitutecrude oil or otherliquid hydrocarbon as fuel in place of coal to greater or less extent,the oil is introduced to the carburetor S under pressure by the pump Sor other means, so that the hot air becomes saturated with vaporizedhydrocarbons. The high heat to which the steam and air with or withouthydrocarbons are subjected in the producerchamber serves to convert theminto a fixed gas, which rises through the producer-chamber and in theupper part thereof heats the superheating-coil D, then passes out bypassage e,descends through chamber E, giving up heat to thesteam-generating coil F, passes thence by passage f to the air-heater G,where it gives up heat to the air flowing through the tubes, and,finally, being thus cooled and its heat effectively utilized andeconomized, it passes out by the pipe 9 tothe pressureregulator H, whichis set to retain in the apparatus the predetermined pressure under whichthe gas is produced, say, for example, one hundred pounds, the gaspassing this regulator being reduced to any desired lower pres sure andpassing off by the pipe 9 to the place of use, or to a storage vessel orgasholder. For burning the gas under the best conditions in glass orsteel furnaces or for other such purposes it is preferable to takecompressed air to the same points of use of the gas by means of a pipe12, the air-pressure beingreduced in like manner by thepressureregulator M; but for illuminating purposes the gas willordinarily be burned Without compressed air and as city gas is nowcommonly burned.

The apparatus requires to be regulated from time to time, according tovariations in rate of consumption of the gas and other conditions. Theamount of water introduced by pipe L should be so regulated as tomaintain an approximately uniform water-level in the reservoir K or K.The air-compressor should be driven faster or slower, according as therate of outflow of the gasincreases or diminishes. The injector shouldbe controlled as with any steam-boiler, so as to maintain the Water-linein the generator at an approximately uniform level.

It must not be understood from the exactness with which I have describedmy improved apparatus that my invention is necessarily limited to theexact construction and mode of operation set forth. On the contrary, itis susceptible of considerable modification Without departing fromitsessential features. For example, the steam-generator F need not be acoil, but may be constructed in any other form that will be suitable forcommunicating the heat of the gas to the water. The water maybe forcedinto the generator under the desired increased pressure by any othermeans than an injector, any known equivalent of an injector for feedingboilers being admissible as a substitute therefor. The Water may beintroduced into the apparatus otherwise than by the air-compressor.

Instead of pumping in water with the air undergoing compression thecompressor J may, as is common with compressors, be water-jacketed, anda force-pump, either form- IIO rendering the'apparatus self-containedandindependent of other apparatus by providing for the driving of theair-compressor J by steam taken from the pipe 2 or otherwise from thesteam-generator F. I also contemplate for further rendering theapparatus in-.

dependent the provision of means by which in first starting a fire thesuperheating-coil D may be utilized as a steam-generator to drive thecompressor J until the cycle of operations shall be fully started. Tothis end a feed pump may be employed for initially charging the coil Dwith Water, and as the heat generates steam a pressure is soon attainedsufficient to drive the compressor.

The pressures referred to in this specification are not absolutepressures, but pressures in excess of atmospheric pressure.

I claim asmy invention the following-defined novel features,substantially as hereinbefore specified, namely:

. 1. The improved process of making combustible gas which consists inpassing preheated air, superheated steam, and hydrocarbon Vaporstogether, through a producerchamber wherein an elevated temperature ismaintained by the combustion of carbonaceous matter, and in which ismaintained a pressure in excess of forty-two pounds per square inch orover.

2. The improved process of making illuminatinggas which consists inpassing preheated air, superheated steam, and hydrocarbon vaporstogether, through a producerchamber wherein an elevated temperature ismaintained by the combustion of carbonaceous matter, and in which ismaintained a pressure exceeding fifty pounds per square inch, wherebythe hydrocarbons are partly oxidized and partly fixed as illuminants.

3. The improved process of making illuminating-gas which consists inpassing preheated air, superheated steam, and hydrocarbon vaporstogether, through a producerchamber wherein an elevated temperature ismaintained by the combustion of carbonaceous matter, and in which ismaintained a pressure exceeding seventy-five pounds and approximatingone hundred pounds per square inch, whereby the hydrocarbons are fixedat the same high temperature at which the gas is generated, and a gas ofhigh illuminating power is produced.

4. The improved process of making illuminatinggas which consists inpassing preheated air, superheated steam, and hydrocarbon vaporstogether, through a producerchamber containing a bed of incandescentcz'u-bonaceous matter, and in which is maintained a pressure exceedingfifty pounds per square inch.

5. The improved process of making gas which consists in compressing airto a given pressure, forcing water under a superiorpressure through asteam-generator whereby it is converted into steam, reducing theconsequent increased pressure of the steam to a lower and uniformpressure, introducing the steam and compressed air together under equalpressure to a gas-producer into contact with incandescent carbonaceousmatter, whereby they are converted into a fixed gas, passing the hot gasinto contact with said steam-generator whereby it is cooled and its heateconomized, and finally conducting the gas to the place of use.

6. The improved process of making gas which consists in compressing airto a given pressure, heating said air, forcing water to a higherpressure into a steam-generator, whereby it is converted into steam,reducing the consequent increased pressure of the steam to a uniformlower pressure, superheating the steam, introducing the superheatedsteam and hot compressed air together under equal pressure to agas-producer into contact with incandescent carbonaceous matter, wherebythey are converted into a fixed gas, passing and steam-generator inwhich said steam is generated and superheated, and into contact with theair-heaterin which said air is heated, wherebyit is cooled and its heateeonomized. and finally conducting the gas to the place of use.

7. The process of making gas which consists in compressing air, heatingit, passing the hot compressed air into contact with a liquidhydrocarbon, whereby it va-porizes the latter and becomes carbureted,generating steam, superheating it, and introducing said steam andcarbureted air together into a gas-producer in which an incandescenttemperature and a high pressure are maintain ed, whereby a partialcombustion of the hydrocarbon occurs, and the steam, air and hydrocarbonare converted into a fixed gas free from tarry and ammoniacalimpurities.

S. The improved process of making illuminating-gas, which consists incompressing air, heating it, passing the hot compressed air into contactwith a liquid hydrocarbon, whereby it vaporizes the latter and becomescarbureted, generating steam, superheating it, and introducing saidsteam and carbureted compressed air together into a gas-producer inwhich an incandescent temperature and a high pressure exceedingseventy-five pounds per square inch are maintained, whereby the air,steam and hydrocarbon vapor are c011- verted into a fixedilluminating-gas.

9. The improved process of making illuminating-gas, which consists incompressing air, heating it, passing the hot compressed air into contactwith a liquid hydrocarbon, whereby it vaporizes the latter and becomescarbureted, forcing water into a steam-generator, whereby it isconverted into steam, superheating the steam, introducing the steam andcarbureted air together to a gas-producer in which an incandescenttemperature and a high pressure are maintained, whereby the steam, airand hydrocarbon vapor are converted into a fixed gas, and passing thehot gas into contact with the superheater and generator in which thesteam is made and superheated, and with the air-heater in which said airis heated, whereby it is cooled and its heat is economized.

10. The improved process of makingilluminating-gas which consists inpumping air and water together, whereby the air is compressed and thewater is heated thereby, forcing the water to a higher pressure into asteam-genorator, whereby it is converted into steam, reducing theconsequent increased pressure of the steam to a uniform lower pressure,superheating the steam, heating said compressed air, passing the hotcompressed air into contact with a liquid hydrocarbon whereby itvaporizes the latter and becomes carbureted, introducing the superheatedsteam and hot com pressed air together to a gas-producer in which anincandescent temperature and a high pressure are maintained, whereby thethe hot gas into contact with the superheater steam, air and hydrocarbonvapor are conin said producer, means for forcing Water into saidsteam-generator to ahigher pressure than that in the producer, and apressure-governor adapted to reduce the pressure of the steam passingfrom said generator to the producer to approximately the pressure in theproducer.

12. A gas apparatus comprising a gas-producer, an air-compressor, asteam-generator,

conduits for air and steam leading into said producer, thesteam-generator arranged to be heated by the hot gases from saidproducer, means for retaining a heavy gaseous pressure in said producer,means for forcing waterinto the apparatus under such pressure, means forforcing said water under higher pressure into the steam-generator,and apressure-governor adapted to reduce the pressure of the steam passingfrom said generator to the producer to approximately the pressure in theproducer. I 1

13. A gas apparatus comprising a gas-producer, a steam-generatorarranged to beheated by the hot gases from said producer, means forretaining a heavy gaseous pressure in said producer, a compressed-airreservoir, means for pumping air and Water into said reservoir in suchcontact that the water absorbs the heat liberated by the compression ofthe air, means for forcing the Water from said reservoir into thesteam-generator under a higher pressure than that in the producer, apressure-governor adapted to reduce the pressure of the steam passingfrom said generator to approximately the pressure in the producer, andconduits for steam and compressed air leading into the producer.

14. A gas apparatus comprising a gas-producer, a steam-generatorarranged to be heated by the hot gases from said producer, means forretaining a heavy gaseous pressure in said producer, a compressed-airreservoir, means for pumping air and water into said reservoir in suchcontact that the water absorbs the heat liberated by the compression ofthe air, an injector operated by steam from said generator drawing waterfrom said reservoir and forcing it to ahigher pressure into saidsteamgenerator, and a pressure-governor adapted to reduce the pressureof the steam passing from said generator to the producer.

15. The combination of a gas-producer A, gas-outflow chamber E,steam-generator F therein, air-heater G, pressure-regulator I-Icontrolling the outflow of gas and retaining a high pressure in theproducer, air-compressor J, compressed-air reservoir K, an airconduitleadingtherefrom through said heater to the producer, means for forcingwater into said steam-generator to higher pressure than that retained inthe producer by said pressure-regulator, a pressure-governor controllingthe outflow of steam from said generator adapted to reduce its pressureto approximately that in the producer, and a conduit for the steamextending thence to the producer.

16. The combination of gas-producer A, steam-generator F, gas-pressureregulator H, aircompressor J, compressed-air reservoir K, injector I-Iadapted to draw water from said reservoir and force it at higherpressure into said steam-generator, a pressure-governor controlling theoutflow of steam from said generator, steam-pipes leading thence to thegasproducer and to said injector, and a compressed-air pipe leading fromsaid air-compressor to the gasproducer.

17. The combination of a gas-compressorA, steam-generator F,gas-pressure regulator H, compressed-air reservoir K, means forcompressing air into said reservoir and for pumping water thereinto,means for forcing the water therefrom into said steamgenerator under ahigher pressure, a check-Valve V for preventing backflow of. water fromsaid steam generator, and pressure-governor R adapted to reduce thepressure of the steam passing from said generator to the producer.

18. A gas apparatus comprising a gas-producer, a steam-generator, anair-compressor, a heater for heating thecompressed air therefrom, aconduit for compressed air leading it through said heater and into saidproducer, and a carb ureter in connection with said compressed-airconduit between the heater and producer, adapted to introduce aliquidhydrocarbon into contact with the heated air to be vaporized and carriedby the air to the producer.

10. A gas apparatus comprising a gas-producer, a steam-generator, anair-compress0r, a heater for heating the compressed air therefrom, aconduit for compressed air leadin'git through said heater and into saidproducer, a carbureter in connection with said compressed-air conduit,and a force-pump for forcing oil into said carbureter, whereby tointroduce the oil into contact with the heated compressed air to bevaporized thereby and carried into the producer.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto signed IIO my name in the presence oftwo subscribing V witnesses.

FRANCIS G. BATES.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR O. FRASER, (lens. A. BRODEK.

